Object Literature
The Windsor chair is recognised as one of the classics of English country furniture. While it is thought that the name of the English Windsor chair derives from its creation in the Windsor area, the High Wycombe area is well known as a key part of the country where these chairs were made. The most famous of them all is the armchair design. This has a single piece of wood curved round the chair to form the arms and the back. Windsor chairs were made in a wide range of styles and there are distinct regional variations from all over Britain and the USA where the form was equally popular. Period Windsor chairs, when they were new, were painted and they were frequently made from different types of wood and thus the paint tied the pieces together.
This example could be described as a ‘heavy rail’ type. Windsor chairs derive one of their merits from their easy portability. This Windsor shows its English origin by the fact that there are few turnings to the legs and stretchers and the arm supports are curved not straight and turned like an American equivalent would be.
A wonky, brilliant piece, now more of a sculpture, and with an abundance of originality and charm.